Fatty Fat Fat??

Howdy all :) Im just in a bit of a quandry. I would like to increase my fat intake but I am not a big fan of fatty foods. I prefer "hidden" fats to obviously greasy foods. I love nuts and never feel like I have a mouth full of grease when I eat them. I have begun adding extra virgin olive oil to my stir fry. Yesterday I switched from light miracle whip to hellman's regular mayo, that was hard on me :*( I need to find more ways to add fats because after all of that my totals yesterday were 1880 calories, 27 fiber, 60 fats, 24 saturated fats, and 137 protein. This gives me a total of 27% calories from fat. I feel this is way too low considering I malabsorb fats and I have severe constipation. I only had constipation pre op when I changed my diet and it was always temporary. So I am wondering how much fat do you all eat? Do you pay attention to fat or have trouble eating too much or too little? Do you have constipation post op worse than pre op. Do you have any tips on how to eat more fat without feeling oily? Thank you :) HUGS PK

hi there i dont track my foods, so hard to say what i consume, but i do understand what you are saying about greasy tasting foods.  they dont work for me at all. have u spoken to your doctor or a NUT about this? i was awfully constipated the first 9 months after surgery.  i took colace, and fiber and flax seeds and i dont even remember what else.  smooth move tea helped at night.  i also found once i added salads back to my diet , that also helped. maybe u are getting enough fat and just dont realize it, im not sure that the fat is the root of your constipation problem, but im no doctor for sure. i also added benefiber to foods and drinks, its colorless and tasteless and mixes up perfectly even in water. hope things improve for you jacki

Hi Jacki :) No I dont have a nut/surg to discuss this with, long story but Im on my own when it comes to WLS, I went into it knowing I would be doing it myself. I have used everything to improve my constipation. Basically if I work it real hard I move once or twice a week and its an ouchy kind.  I eat mega fiber and drink mega fluids (fiber is 20 - 50 grams a day with food and benefiber and fluids are 120 - 150 ounces a day) I have never eaten enough fat, I journal everyday ;) I may have several issues adding to the intestinal stoppage BUT I believe low fat to be the deciding factor. When I do get high fats I have happy and non ouchy poos everyday. Recently I went on a cruise and had no control over the fat in my foods. Even the healthy stuff I ate was much higher in fat than I am accustomed to. I was very regular and felt great while eating this higher fat food. The poos I had were filled with fat. I now understand the term "oil slick" like never before. So I now know I malabsorb fats, big time. I wasnt sure before since I eat so little. Daily I had under 10 grams of fat in the first year post op. Now I am trying to maintain my weight by eating more and that means more food inside me not coming out :(  I could just eat like I did while away but over all the food was terrible.  So I know I need to add more into my diet I just dont know how to do it in a way that I can stick to.  Im sure other people must have this problem too, no?  Thank you :) HUGS PK

Hey Jacki... I have all different kinds of weeks...Sometimes...I get just like you for a month....I have tried to figure it all out...But too much fiber makes me bloated and can totally bind me rather than help me sometimes...It's sooo hard to find that happy spot... I put olive oil in near everthing I cook.  I stir-fry my veggies in olive oil and salt and use little no butter at all.  One of my favorite fats that I take for several reasons is Virgin Coconut oil...(usually found in the healthy food section of the grocery store) It looks solid white...like shortening only less dense. It helps with soooo many things...It is an anti-baterial, anti-viral fat that is somewhat soluable with water. The body is mostly water and so it mixes well with coconut oil... This oil cooks well too because it can handle high temps without breaking down! It tastes awesome as a butter on whole grain pancakes and baked goods too or anything you'd use butter on. I first started taking it to regulate my thyroid (pre-op)...I take it by the spoonful but it kinda bugs my throat a little...So I've been chewing my multi vitamin with some it since it goes straight to the blood and helps take the vits there with it. It makes the vitamin taste so creamy and naughty!  :) I'm not sure if I'm regular because of it or I'm just have a lucky month! LOL The greatest thing about coconut oil is that even though you might read that it is a saturated fat, it turns into ketones in your intestines.....and the body LOVES to burn muscle and ketone acids first!  Rather than stored fats like animal saturated fats and other stored fat.  This fat is practically burned before your body starts burning muscles! It's amazing stuff!  It wards off the FLU too!   I dunno if it will help with constipation but it keeps me healthy...I've been pretty regular since I cut out sugar and bad carbs almost completely.  Just thought I'd share that. Anita

I know, I'm a lowly 7 months out, but mama, you know I am the queen of poop. And I can tell you-- after Miralax, and fiber supplements, and Colace, and upping the water, only one thing has kept me regular-- and yup--it's more fat. Not big globs of it, just switching from non-fat to lowfat cheeses, having a couple ounces of prime rib instead of super low fat (97% lean) hamburger-- of my 850 calories-- I was getting about 15-20 g of fat, and am now closer to 40. For me the main change is in the dairy. Adding more milkfat-- in cheeses, sour cream (add the real stuff to your mexican foods!) or yogurts really helped. I still put a little Miralax in my tea, but the main difference has been in fat, I'm convinced.

Oh Shari you are simply the queen baby ;) In the famous words of Homer Jay Simpson, "butter your bacon, boy" mmm bacon... snack time... *drooool* snuggles Peeker

Hi! I don't track my fat intake, but I do try to incorporate healthy fats into my diet. I have had severe constipation problems since a few months out. After having to see a colon/rectal surgeon, I now have a better handle on the problem. He recommended adding some high fiber to my diet in the for of Original Fiber One cereal~wow has this helped! It doesn't taste the best, but it has 14grams of fiber per 1/2 C serving. After trying Metamucil type fiber, I have seen such a tremendous difference from eating the cereal. As far as the mayo goes, I too switched from regular to a lighter version, but found a new one out that's Kraft Mayo with Olive Oil~its pretty good too! I had it on tuna yesterday.

Hi Tracy :) I too have had the constipation since the begining. Around 2 months out and on it has been a pain in my a$$!. I actually already eat a HIGH fiber and HIGH fluid diet. I am looking at other alternatives to solving my problem than "aids". I think fat is the culprit since when I eat a higher fat diet I tend to lose the constipation. I actually switched from light TO the regular. I am slowly getting off my life long diet foods. I have always used the "light" version of everything and managed to get super morbidly obese anyway. Thanks for your help :) HUGS PK

It sounds like you're doing everything "right" to me!!! I switched to the light mayo b/c it had olive oil in it and I don't think I get enough of that~I tend to eat the same things over and over and most of them seem to be lower in fat. I know what you mean about eating "diet foods" and gaining weight~I have been thinking about that lately b/c of the controversy over sugar subsitutes and they thinking that they  may actually cause us to gain weight. Its so hard to know what is best to do?!?!?!? Anyway, good luck and keep us posted on how things are going for you!

actually ive never worked with a NUT either since my surgery.  now u really have me thinking about this issue. other than mayo and olive oil, what about some salad dressings they have fat content. nuts have oil also if u can tolerate them my problem is im not eating enough protein because i have food issues.  will think on this some more, may respond again.